After more than 50 years in its Leola, PA, facility, Hess Bros. Fruit Co. is now settling into its newly renovated, high-tech, cutting-edge facility in Lancaster, just 10 minutes away from its previous location.

Leola, PA-based Hess Bros. is operated by second- and third-generation family members. Pictured are Zack King, human resources and assistant plant manager, Ryan Hess, fruit procurement and grower relations, and Andrew Figart, sales and marketing.Fred Hess, company president, shares ownership with his nephews, Ryan Hess, Andy Figart and Zack King. The three men are the next generation at Hess Bros., and they have all grabbed the reins to help grow the business. Ryan Hess is in charge of fruit procurement and grower relations. Figart oversees sales and marketing, and King manages human resources and is the assistant plant manager.

“We bought the building last year and had it retrofitted to our specifications,” said Fred Hess. “It has increased cold storage space and a new packing line. We also had our existing packing line moved from the old building and installed here.”

The company’s previous building was approximately 50,000 square feet. The new one is 155,000 square feet. Asked what the company is doing with all that extra space, Hess is happy to explain.

“We are introducing a new apple, the Sweet Cheeks, which is proprietary to Hess Brothers,” he said. “We worked with Willow Drive Nursery in Ephrata, Washington, to develop this new club variety, and we’re very excited to introduce it to the market with the coming harvest. The additional space in our new facility will help to prepare us for the increased volumes of it and increases of our other popular varieties into the future.”

Hess Bros. had the Sweet Cheeks brand name trademarked in 2014. Hess explained that it will be in limited supply this season, but the company feels certain that it’s going to be a well-received variety.

The company produces a wide range of apple varieties. Hess said that volumes on Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji apples are up while Red and Golden Delicious demand has lessened over the past few years. But Hess Bros. continues to produce all of the popular New York varieties, including some diehard oldies but goodies that were developed in the 1800s.

“Our overall crop is doing very well this year, and we expect it to be in line with our average in volume,” Hess said Aug. 10. “We would like to see a little more rain to help the apples size up. Some growing regions in New York have reported some hail damage this season, but we were fortunately spared.”

He expects the quality of the crop to be very good again this year, noting, “We like a manageable crop, and one that delivers really great apples.”